Mayor Parker’s administration negotiates tentative contract agreement with AFSCME DC 47.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker of Philadelphia has announced a tentative three-year labor contract agreement with District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), representing thousands of white-collar municipal workers across various city departments. This announcement, made in the Mayor’s Reception Room at City Hall, marks the second significant labor agreement reached in less than a week, following the resolution of a contentious strike involving over 9,000 blue-collar municipal employees from AFSCME District Council 33.
The recent agreement effectively averted a potential strike, a situation that had loomed over the negotiations. Parker expressed relief over the breakthrough and noted the lengthy process leading up to it, which sparked significant discussions among city officials and union representatives. The tentative contract is now subject to ratification by the members of DC 47, with hopes for a member vote to occur within the week.
Under the terms of the new contract, workers are set to receive annual wage increases of 2.5%, 3%, and 3% over the three-year period, as well as a one-time bonus of ,250. Additional provisions include a 1% fifth-step pay increase and efforts to enhance wage scales for long-serving employees and those on second or third shifts. The contract also strengthens the city’s commitment to covering a greater share of healthcare claims, reflecting a recognition of the potential impact of federal funding threats on municipal healthcare programs.
Parker emphasized that when factoring in a previous 5% salary increase granted last year, the total compensation increase for union members could reach 13.5% during her administration. The city has allocated approximately million for this new contract over five years, contributing to a broader labor budget that includes 0 million to cover costs associated with municipal employee agreements.
The negotiation process with DC 47 appeared less fraught than earlier discussions with DC 33, where tensions culminated in an eight-day strike characterized by significant unrest. Unlike the decisive actions taken by DC 33 leading to the work stoppage, DC 47’s leadership opted for more measured negotiation tactics, allowing for the possibility of contract extensions rather than immediately resorting to strike authorization votes.
Looking ahead, Parker highlighted the ongoing need for the city to engage in contract negotiations with 22,000 municipal workers across various unions whose contracts expired on July 1. The challenge remains to balance fiscal responsibility with the competing interests of city employees, all while ensuring that public services remain uninterrupted. The progress made with DC 47 stands as a promising step forward amid a complex landscape of labor negotiations that is likely to continue shaping Philadelphia’s municipal workforce policies.
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